LANSING – Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) today announced a plan to catapult Michigan forward in alternative energy and make the state a magnet for clean, renewable energy jobs. The plan builds on legislation passed last year and further positions Michigan to meet growing demand for clean energy workers by offering powerful incentives for renewable energy development and manufacturing, energy efficiency and alternative energy production.
"Michigan's alternative energy sector is in prime position to be the spark that jumpstarts our economy," said Byrnes, a sponsor of the plan. "We need to do all we can to be a leader in renewable energy and attract jobs in new energy industries. We know job providers locate in states that promote 21st century energy – this plan ensures Michigan will be one of those states."
The legislation will position Michigan as a leader in producing alternative energy, as well as manufacturing energy-efficient products and components for renewable energy systems. The plan will:
- Create powerful incentives for alternative energy companies to come to Michigan by requiring that 30 percent of our electricity come from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy by 2025. This plan builds on legislation passed last year requiring that 10 percent of Michigan's electricity come from clean, renewable sources by 2015.
- Require utilities to work with their customers to decrease electricity usage so utilities sell 2 percent less energy each year.
- Revise building codes to increase energy efficiency.
- Encourage residents and businesses to become alternative energy entrepreneurs by allowing them to sell excess energy they create via renewable sources like solar panels or wind turbines.
Research continues to show a huge potential for growth in the renewable energy industry. The U.S. Department of Energy has identified Michigan as one of four states that can create more than 30,000 manufacturing jobs in the wind sector alone. According to the 2009 Michigan Green Jobs Report from the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, a sample of more than 350 green-related firms showed job growth of 7.7 percent. In contrast, other Michigan businesses shed jobs at a rate of 5.4 percent.
Lawmakers have worked to put Michigan at the forefront of the alternative energy industry by passing the nation's first tax credits – totaling $555 million in incentives – to attract companies that research, develop and manufacture advanced batteries for electric vehicles. As a result of that aggressive strategy, four world-class companies plan to invest a total of $1.7 billion in Michigan and create more than 6,600 jobs.
"We can't afford to fall behind in renewable energy and let jobs go to other states," Byrnes said. "With our top-notch workforce and world-class research universities, Michigan has all the resources to emerge as the nation's leader in renewable energy. By attracting these good-paying, high-tech jobs to Michigan, we can get residents back on the job."